Possess

When Sabinus is forced to stop for repairs, he's also forced to take his pet away from the safety of the ship and out into public for the first time. He's not too worried: he's not so out of practice that he can't take care of himself, and if she can't take care of herself in turn, it's not really his problem. Easy come, easy go. She's not the primary target here, anyway: after all, what kind of threat could an insignificant former civil servant possibly pose?

Enough for someone to want her deader than a nail, it turns out.

Idiots. She's far more entertaining alive.